Health Library

You eat a greasy burger and fries and chase it down with a big soda. Soon, you feel the burning pain in your chest known as heartburn. If you have heartburn or acid indigestion more than twice a week, it’s known as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The condition occurs when the sphincter muscle separating the esophagus from the stomach doesn’t close properly, allowing stomach contents (including acid) to rise up into the esophagus, causing a burning sensation in the chest or a bitter taste in the mouth. If left untreated, GERD can lead to more serious conditions, including esophageal cancer. Test your knowledge about this common, treatable condition: